Recently in Pool, Spa, Hot Tub Drowning Law Category

To avoid the potential of pool and spa suction entrapments, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) recalled dozens of models of drain covers from eight different manufactures. This recall is expected to impact over a million pools and spas nationwide.

There has been a strong federal and state government interest in pool regulation in recent years. This interest primarily stems from the 2002 suction entrapment death of 7-year-old Virginia Graeme Baker "Graeme". On June 15, 2002, Graeme went to a graduation pool party at a friend's house. Shortly after arriving, she entered a hot tub and became pinned to bottom drain. Although two adults were eventually able to pull Graeme from the bottom, she drowned. From this tragedy, Congress passed the 2007 Virginia Graeme Baker Act. As of December 19, 2008, this law:

Prohibits the manufacture, sale or distribution of suction outlets and covers in the U.S. that are not ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 certified,

Requires all public pools and spas, both new and existing, be equipped with certified covers on every suction outlet,

Requires all new construction of public pools and spas include multiple drain outlets, and

Requires existing public pools and spas with a single suction outlet, other than an unblockable outlet, to be fitted with one or more of the following intended to prevent death or injury caused by entrapment, evisceration or entanglement:

Safety vacuum release system (SVRS) that complies with ANSI/ASME A112.19.17 or ASTM F2387;

Suction limiting vent system;

Gravity drainage system;

Automatic pump shut-off;

Drain disablement; or

Equivalent system that may be approved by the CPSC.

The recent recall primarily affects kiddie pools, wading pools and inground spas. It also impacts single-drain pools that do not have an unblockable drain, gravity feed system or drain covers installed before December 2008.

The CPSC cautions owners of pools, spas and hot tubs outfitted with the recalled drain covers to stop using the products immediately. Anyone with one of the recalled drain covers should immediately contact the manufacturer to get a replacement or retrofit.